Brough Castle
Brough Castle sits on the site of a Roman fort dating back to around AD 79-80 and named Verteris. The castle dates back to the 12th century but there is evidence of an earlier structure on the same site.
In the 12th Century, Brough was one of two principal castles of the lordship of Westmorland. Brough was garrisoned for King Henry II when William I of Scotland invaded the north of England to support the continuing rebellion. King William captured Brough and set it on fire, destroying most of the keep.
In 1179, Henry II of England granted the castle to Theobald de Valoines, who is most likely the builder of the present square keep. After changing hands a number of times, before becoming home to the Clifford family in the 13th century and further changes were made.
Today, the castle is owned by the Beckwith family and is free to visit. The nearby St Michael’s Parish Church displays an exhibition about the region.
Enjoy a historic outing to remember at Brough Castle…
Image Credits: Rod Allday – CC BY-SA 2.0